Container top



Feb. 10, 1942. R. c. c BEL 2,272,867

CONTAINER TOP Filed May 8. 1939 INVENTOR Pay 6? Cabal BY W W ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 10, 1942 CONTAINER TOP Bay 0. Cobel, Newark, Ohio, assignor to A. H.

Heisey & Company, Newark, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio 7 Application May 8, 1939, Serial No. 272,392

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a container top. It has to do, more particularly, with a dispensing top for containers adapted to hold syrup or other similar liquids.

In the past, many attempts have been made to provide a suitable top for syrup containers of such a nature that the syrup could be readily dispensed from the container and the flow of syrup from the container could be quickly and eifectively interrupted without dripping of the syrup. A number of these prior art devices include hinged or sliding closures. However, these closures do not effectively prevent dripping of the syrup and also tend to stick and become inoperative if not used for a considerable period. Also. most of these devices have been of a complicated structure and expensive to manufacture.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a container top for syrup containers which is of such a nature that the syrup may be readily dispensed from the container and then the top will quickly and effectively seal the container in such a manner as to prevent the syrup from dripping therefrom.

Another object of my invention is to provide a top for syrup containers which is of such a nature that the parts thereof will not stick.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the type indicated which is very simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of referenc designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a container with a top made according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken through the container top.

With reference to the drawing, I have shown my container top I of substantially cylindrical form. This top I may be made of metal or any other suitable material. The interior of its lower portion is threaded, as indicated as 2, so that it may be screwed onto the upper end of a container 3 which may be of any suitable form and of any suitable material,

It will be noted that the upper end of the top I is closed by a substantially disk-like portion 4. On the top at one side thereof is integrally formed an upwardly and outwardly extending pouring spout 5 which is preferably of annular crosssection. Diametrically opposite to the pouring spout 5 a handle-receiving portion 6 is formed integrally on the top. This portion 6 is of substantially U-shaped cross-section and extends downwardly and outwardly. On its lower end it has a threaded socket "I Which receives the threaded upper end of a handle 6. The handle 8 may be of any suitable material.

The disk-like portion 5 is provided with a groove or channel 9 formed in the upper surface thereof and extending from the spout 5 to the handle-receiving portion 6. This groove or channel is adapted to receive a flat lever l0. When the lever II! is in channel 9, the upper surface thereof will be substantially flush with the upper surface of the portion 4. This lever is provided with a pair of depending lugs II which may be formed integral therewith and on opposite edges thereof. These lugs extend downwardly between the upper end of member 6. A pivot pin I2 passes through cooperating openings formed in member 6 and lugs II in order to pivot the lever ID to the member 6. The lever I0 extends outwardly beyond the pivot point I2 to form an outwardly projecting portion I3 adapted to be engaged by the thumb when a person grasps the handle 8. A spring I4 is associated with the pivot pin'IZ and bears against the lower surface of portion 53 of the lever and the upper surface of the member 6. This spring normally keps the lever III in the position indi cated in Figure 1.

In order to effectively close the pouring spout 5, the lever I0 is provided at its opposite end with a closure portion.

This closure portion extends downwardly at an angle corresponding to the angular relationship of the upper edge I6 of the pouring spout. The closure portion I5 is provided with a lower convex or spherical surface IT. The upper edge I 6 of the pouring spout is in the form of an inclined seat having a knife-edge formed thereon. The surface I I will seat on the surface I6 and will effectively close the spout 5 when the lever I l! is in its lowermost position, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3.

In order to dispense syrup from the container, it is merely necessary to grasp the handle 8 and press downwardly on the portion I3 of lever I I] with the thumb. This will swing the lever I0 upwardly causing the surface I! to be unseated from the seat I6. To close the container, it is merely necessary to release the portion I3 allowing the lever Hi to snap back into its original position Where the surface I1 will seat on the seat I6. These cooperating surfaces I6 and I? will tightly seal the container and will serve to shear off the syrup and will prevent further drippage. There will be no danger of the parts of the device sticking. The only point where sticking could occur would be at the seat I5 which has a very small area.

It will be apparent from the preceding description, the drawing, and the following claims, that my structure has many advantages not possessed by prior art structures.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A container top of the type described comprising a body portion of substantially cylindrical form having a disk-like portion closing the upper end thereof, a pouring spout formed at one side thereof and extending upwardly and outwardly, said pouring spout being of annular cross-section and having a, downwardly inclined upper end, a handle receiving portion formed on the body portion at a point diametrically opposite the pouring spout, said disk-like portion having a channel extending from the pouring spout to the handle-receiving portion, a lever pivoted to the upper end of said handle-receiving portion and including a main portion which normally lies in said channel and an outwardly extending portion adjacent the handle-receiving portion, said lever having a closure member formed thereon for cooperation with said spout and extending downwardly and outwardly, said closure member having a spherical sealing surface on its lower side, and said pouring spout having an inclined upper edge forming a seat upon which said spherical surface will seat.

2. A container top of the type described, comprising a body portion having a closed substantially fiat upper end, a pouring spout formed thereon, said pouring spout being of substantially annular cross-section, a handle portion formed on the body portion directly opposite the pouring spout, said flat upper end having a channel formed therein extending from the pouring spout to the handle portion, a lever pivoted to the top and normally lying in said channel, said lever being provided with a portion adjacent the handle by means of which it may be swung about its pivot, said lever having a closure member formed thereon for cooperation with said spout, said closure member having a spherical sealing surface on its lower side, and said pouring spout having an inclined upper edge forming a seat upon which said spherical surface will seat.

3. A container top of the type described comprising a body portion of substantially cylindrical form having a disk-like portion closing the upper end thereof, a pouring spout formed at one side thereof and extending upwardly and outwardly, said pouring spout being of annular cross-section and having a downwardly inclined upper end, a handle receiving portion formed on the body portion at a point diametrically opposite the pouring spout, said disk-like portion having a channel extending from the pouring spout to the handle-receiving portion, and a lever pivoted to the upper end of said handle-receiving portion and including a main portion which normally lies in said channel and an outwardly extending portion adjacent the handle-receiving portion, said lever having a closure member formed thereon for cooperation with said spout and extending downwardly and outwardly.

4. A container top of the type described comprising a body portion having a closed substantially fiat upper end, a pouring spout formed on said body portion at one side thereof, a lever pivoted to the top of said body portion adjacent the side thereof opposite the pouring spout, said flat upper end having a channel formed therein extending from the pouring spout to a point adjacent the pivot point of the lever, said lever normally lying in said channel and having one end projecting beyond the pivot by means of which it may be swung about its pivot, said lever having a closure member formed on its opposite end for cooperation with said spout.

RAY C. COBEL. 

